Ross Vet classroom with an open textbook
Veterinarian textbook in a classroom

DVM Program Curriculum


Your pathway to a veterinary career

Ross Vet Accelerated DVM

Ross Vet’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum is focused on graduating confident and competent veterinarians prepared for diverse career opportunities. Our program goes beyond textbooks. You'll develop the essential communication skills to build trust with both animals and their owners. Dive into hands-on learning that gets you comfortable in real-life scenarios. Use the latest technology to bring veterinary medicine to life. Our curriculum is constantly evolving to reflect the hottest topics and trends in the field.

The DVM degree is awarded upon the successful completion of our 10-Semester preclinical and clinical DVM curriculum.

DVM CURRICULUM AT A GLANCE 

Immerse yourself in diverse settings, delve into research with established professors, and build connections that will shape your future. Our goal is to help you hit the ground ready to make a difference in animal health.

RUSVM DVM Program Timeline
3.25 Year DVM Program

Your 3.25 year accelerated DVM curriculum includes ten semesters of learning experiences.

7 Semesters on Campus

Your first seven semesters are spent on campus in St. Kitts completing 128.5 semester credit hours of specifically prescribed coursework.

Preclinical Curriculum Credit Hours

A credit hour for the Ross Vet preclinical curriculum is equal to one hour of instructional time and two hours of supplementary time.

Clinical Year at an AVMA-Accredited School

Your final year of the program will be spent in intense clinical training at one of our 30 AVMA-accredited school affiliates in the US, Canada, Australia, UK, New Zealand, and Ireland.

Semester One Snapshot

This semester focuses on building a strong foundation for future veterinarians, equipping you with essential skills, scientific knowledge, and research literacy.

Here's a breakdown of the key courses:

Essential Skills

VMI 5102 (1 credit)

Veterinary Professional Foundations I equip students with core competencies like communication, ethics, and financial planning for success in the profession.

VMI 5112 (1 credit)

Essential Veterinary Skills 1 provides hands-on training in animal handling, examination, and communication, building complexity over multiple semesters.

Foundational Sciences

VMA 5111 (3.5 credits)

Microscopic Anatomy and Embryology delves into the cellular structure and development of animals, preparing students for future coursework.

VMA 5113 (4 credits)

Gross Anatomy I focus on the comparative anatomy of major domestic animals through dissections and lectures.

Infectious Disease  and Research

VMA 5114 (2 credits)

Principles of Infectious Diseases lays the groundwork for understanding pathogens and disease transmission, crucial for veterinary medicine.

VMR 5132 (1 credit)

Principles of Veterinarian Research introduces students to research methods, ethics, and communication, preparing them for evidence-based practice.

Physiology

VPP 5123 (4 credits)

Physiology I cover key body systems like the nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems, emphasizing their function and interaction.

See our academic calendar for a complete list of courses and course information.

DVM PRECLINICAL CORE COURSEWORK SUMMARY

DVM Course Summary
SemesterCourse No.Course TitleCredits
OneVMI 5102Veterinary Professional Foundations I1
OneVMI 5112Essential Veterinary Skills 11
OneVMS 5111Microscopic Anatomy and Embryology3.5
OneVMA 5113Gross Anatomy I4
OneVMA 5114Principles of Infectious Diseases2
OneVPP 5123Physiology I4
OneVMR 5132Principles of Veterinary Research1
TwoVMI 5212Essential Veterinary Skills 21
TwoVMA 5216Gross Anatomy II4
TwoVPP 5223Physiology II4
TwoVMP 5253Immunology3
TwoVMP 5265Parasitology3.5
TwoVMP 5252Clinical Reasoning Skills I 1
ThreeVMI 5312Essential Veterinary Skills 31
ThreeVPP 5431Applied Animal Nutrition  3
ThreeVPA 5341Pathology I4
ThreeVMP 5351Bacteriology and Mycology3
ThreeVPP 5355Virology3
ThreeVMP 5352Clinical Reasoning Skills II1
ThreeVPP 5343Pharmacology I 3
FourVMI 5412Essential Veterinary Skills 41
FourVPP 5431Applied Animal Nutrition3
FourVPA 5443Pathology II5
FourVPA 5448Clinical Pathology6
FourVPP 5334Pharmacology5
FourVMS 5475Veterinary Public Health3.5
FiveVMI 5512Essential Veterinary Skills 51
FiveVPP 5538Toxicology3
FiveVMS 5573Diagnostic Imaging4
FiveVMS 5577Anesthesiology4
FiveVMS 5585Small Animal Medicine I7
SixVMS 5612Essential Veterinary Skills 61
SixVMS 5698Avian and Exotic Animal Medicine2
SixVMS 5649Small Animal Surgery4
SixVMS 5650Surgery Laboratory I2
SixVMS 5687Small Animal Medicine II5
SixVMS 5690Large Animal Medicine I5
SevenVMS 5775Theriogenology4
SevenVMS 5783Essential Veterinary Skills G2
SevenVMS 5793Large Animal Medicine II5
SevenVMS 5795Large Animal Surgery4
SevenVMS 5796Surgery Laboratory II2
SevenVMI 5704Veterinary Professional Foundations II1
SevenVLE 5701Licensing Exam Preparation2
Elective Coursework

Disaster Management
Course Number: V1PG 0146B
Credits: 2
 
This elective course provides knowledge of hazard and risk assessment; types of disasters, disaster planning and management, agencies involved in disaster management and their respective roles. The course also involves knowledge and practical application of the Incident Command System. Through discussions, case studies and a table top exercise, candidates will have the opportunity to examine lessons learnt from previous disasters as well as disaster preparation. No prerequisite.

Introduction To Sea Turtle Medicine
Course Number: VMB 5001
Credits: 1
 
This course covers sea turtle natural history and biology, provides an understanding of the husbandry, nutrition, diagnostics, therapeutics, anesthesia, surgery, emerging diseases, mortality events and current ongoing research as they relate to sea turtles. The course includes an overview of the most common conditions requiring treatment seen in sea turtles, and recommendations for designing an effective and feasible treatment plan. Discussions will focus on recently published peer-reviewed research focused on sea turtle management and medicine. This elective course is offered once per year, during the Summer semester. Offered to Semesters 4-7.

Special Topics In Research
Course Number: VMR 5011/22/33/44/55
Credits: 1-5
 
Students are introduced to various research experiences ranging from involvement in an approved intramural and/or extramural research project on campus, working with RUSVM faculty, to working several weeks or months at another institution, program or field investigation. Special topics are selected based on their research credibility and planned outputs. The level of involvement varies with the project, length of commitment and the student’s desires. This impacts the number of credits assigned in advance for the special topics electives.

Parasitic Zoonoses
Course Number: VMP 5001
Credits: 1
 
The course covers major animal parasites of zoonotic potentials. It focuses water-borne, meat-borne, vector-borne, fish-borne, snailborne, crustacean-borne and plant-borne parasites. It also covers parasites causing larva migrans. Clinical manifestations, diagnosis, epidemiology of human disease and One Health approach for control and management for model parasites are discussed.

Intro To Shelter Medicine
Course Number: VMS 5001
Credits: 1
 
To provide students with an understanding of the vital role that veterinarians play in the overall health and well-being of shelter animals, as well as the importance of population medicine. Students will become familiar with medical and behavioral health and well-being of shelter animals, control of infectious disease, zoonotic diseases and public health, spay/neuter programs, the veterinarian’s role in animal cruelty and neglect cases, veterinary forensics, and disaster preparedness and community education.

Introduction To Veterinary Animal Behavior
Course Number: VMS 5384
Credits: 1
 
Introduces the principles of animal learning, and the application of behavior-modification techniques based on these principles. Includes an overview of the most common behavioral problems seen in companion animals and current treatment recommendations, designing an effective and feasible treatment plan, and integrating behavior into your practice. Offered to Semesters 2-7.

Basis Of Animal Production
Course Number: VMS 5390
Credits: 1
 
This elective course covers the basic notions on animal production, specifically the major characteristics regarding husbandry and management in the different food-producing animals: Poultry, Swine, Dairy and Beef cattle, Sheep, Goat, and unconventional species. The course includes an overview on how different production systems work, what are their main characteristics and their productive cycle year-round and will also address existing differences between animal production systems. The elective will confer the students with animal production knowledge that will be of high importance to other courses like Theriogenology or Animal Nutrition. Offered to Semesters 2-7.

Lab Animal Medicine I
Course Number: VMS 5498
Credits: 1
 
Introduction to the field of laboratory animal medicine and science including: ethical use of laboratory animals in biomedical research and teaching, careers in laboratory animal medicine, husbandry and management of vivaria – the GUIDE, and information specific to rats, mice, hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs, rabbits, nonhuman primates, ferrets, sheep, pigs and zebrafish. Offered to Semesters 2-7.

Lab Animal Medicine II
Course Number: VMS 5499
Credits: 1
 
Course provides an in-depth study into the field of laboratory animal medicine and science building upon the foundations of Lab Animal Medicine I. Offered to Semesters 3-7.

Clinical Nutrition
Course Number: VMS 5531
Credits: 1
 
This course is an introduction to the concepts of canine and feline clinical nutrition. Offered to Semesters 5-6.

Aquatic Veterinary Medicine I
Course Number: VAM 5001
Credits: 1
 
The course will provide the students with a general understanding of aquaculture practices and instill the importance, and real need, for veterinarians to have aquatic veterinary medical knowledge, skills and experience in order to be able to assist with the increasing demands put on aquaculture and related industries (ornamental etc.) globally. AVM-1 will focus more on Pre-clinical areas, such as the aquaculture industry, the aquatic environment, aquatic animal husbandry /rearing cycles, water quality, culture species and taxonomy, anatomy and physiology. There will also be an introduction to aquatic animal diseases, including disease prevention / aquatic biosecurity. There will be wet labs for the students to learn how to familiarize themselves with anatomy of finfish, molluscs and crustacean. Offered to Semesters 3-7.

Aquatic Veterinary Medicine II
Course Number: VAM 5002
Credits: 1
 
The AVM elective courses will provide the students with a general understanding of aquaculture practices and instill the importance, and real need, for veterinarians to have aquatic veterinary medical knowledge, skills and experience in order to be able to assist with the increasing demands put on aquaculture and related industries (ornamental etc.) globally. AVM-2 will focus on clinical areas, such as the pathobiology and epidemiology of aquatic animal diseases. Diagnosis and treatment of aquatic animal diseases. Histopathology labs will be utilized to (1) demonstrate some typical diseases found in some common aquaculture species, such as finfish and invertebrates and (2) form part of the evaluation, i.e. being able to get the student to interpret the histopathology in certain unknown histology sections and offer an etiology for what they have observed. Offered to Semesters 4-7.

Business Management For Veterinarians
Course Number: VMI 5010
Credits: 1
 
The proposed Business Management Elective will include a series of lectures and case-based information that addresses a range of macroeconomic, microeconomic, and personal financial planning topics relevant to achieving a necessary understanding of the business of veterinary medicine, employment issues, and workplace environment surrounding veterinary medicine and the preparatory issues for new grads entering the workplace to be successful. Dr. John D. Tait MS (Finance) DVM MBA CFP, Certified in Business Valuation, Certified in Negotiation and Mediation would deliver the elective.

Introduction To Applied Wellness Techniques
Course Number: VMI 50515
Credits: 1
 
The elective introduces a variety of approaches to pre-clinical veterinary students that promote self-discovery and managing stress and anxiety while enhancing self-awareness and self-care. The program is highly experiential and engages students in meditation, guided imagery, breathing, and movement. Additionally, health and wellness topics will be presented. The first class will be 1 hour in length and provide an overview for the course. Subsequent classes will be 1.5 hours in length and meet once a week to learn and practice techniques, as well as discuss their experiences.

ONE HEALTH & SYSTEMS APPROACH
Course Number: V1PG 0140
Credits: 1

In this course, One Health will be definedand placed in an historical context. The meaningof using a One Healthapproach to research,policy, development and otheraspects of animal,human and environmental health will be explored with current One Health advocatesdescribing how they use One Health within their work. The complexity of One Health and the need for a systemsapproach to address animal, environmental and human health issues will be discussed using current literature and case examples. The importance of collaborations, networks and teams in implementing One Health approaches also will be stressed. Short videos and assigned reading material will be supplemented with discussions. Participation in the discussions is a key component of this course. 

No prerequisite.

Having access to so many different types of animals on the island during my vet school career was the best thing that could have happened. And I think it just broadens our horizon of being doctors and not just doing small animal or just doing large animal. We had to do both, and I loved it.
Peyton Mart
Peyton Mart
DVM Class of 2024
Student in classroom
PRECLINICAL CURRICULUM

Our vet school curriculum provides clinical correlation and examples of clinical relevance throughout the instructional program. As early as the first semester, our Clinical Skills and Simulation labs offer you:

  • Opportunity to practice and acquire basic veterinary skills 
  • Models to practice both in labs and at home
  • Continuous feedback from faculty and instructors

CLINICAL CURRICULUM

Following your foundational preclinical coursework, embark on a transformative journey through our extensive clinical network. Partnering with over 30 AVMA-accredited schools across the United States, Canada, Ireland, the UK, and New Zealand, Ross Vet offers unparalleled clinical immersion.

Student Success and Support

Ross Vet is invested in your success as a DVM student and beyond. As a preclinical student studying on St. Kitts, you’ll have access to modern facilities and technology, student clubs to extend your learning, and the support from our faculty and staff throughout your studies. 

Curriculum FAQs

What is covered in the Ross Vet DVM curriculum?

The Ross Vet DVM curriculum emphasizes clinical communication skills, hands-on experiential learning, innovative instructional technology, and content that reflects current veterinary education topics and trends. The preclinical curriculum consists of a minimum of 128 semester credit hours of specifically prescribed coursework.* The clinical curriculum consists of three semesters of clinical training at an AVMA-accredited school of veterinary medicine in the US, Canada, UK, or Ireland that is affiliated with RUSVM. Students should complete the DVM curriculum in 10 semesters.

*Credit totals may change based on approved curricular revisions

How many semesters are in the Ross Vet DVM curriculum?

There are (10) semesters in the DVM program.

How many credit hours do you need to complete the DVM preclinical curriculum?

The vet school curriculum is typically three years of preclinical training. Preclinical studies consist of  a minimum of 128 semester credit hours of specifically prescribed coursework.*  For our clinical curriculum, you are required to complete a minimum of 45 weeks of supervised and evaluated clinical curriculum at an affiliated school/college to be eligible for graduation. You will spend a minimum of 20 weeks in the core rotations. The remaining time (generally 25 weeks) consists of a combination of electives and externships. Total credit hours will vary by affiliated institution.

*Credit totals may change based on approved curricular revisions

How many semesters do you need to complete the DVM clinical curriculum?

Most veterinary schools require four years to complete the DVM clinical curriculum.

Your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine is awarded after the successful completion of Ross Vet’s ten (10) semester DVM curriculum.

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